Means and method for cutting fabrics



Aug '7, 1951 M. cow/m 2,562,892

MEANS AND METHODS FOR CUTTING FABRICS Filed Dec. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l Marquis owan/ ATTORNEYS 1951 M. COWAN 2,562,892

MEANS AND METHODS FOR CUTTING FABRICS Filed Dec 22, 1-945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marni? flow/am ATTORNEYs 3'9 a mu w 7 L 7 j 1,, m m w n '7 V r gu J a 1 m 195 m 52 1 111 7 W 1\\\ fl Q3 W M 2 J a a 7 i j 9 0 1 Q m mflfl K M% 3 4 W a w w 4 r r0 6 W 1 6 J 1 M. COWAN 2,562,892

MEANS AND METHODS FOR CUTTING FABRICS Filed Dec. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 G 11 6 G x a l 4&

INYENTOR MOXIQJS Caz/1017,

Patented Aug. 7, l951 UNITED STATES. PATENT}; OFFICE FAnnIcs Morris Cowanjllew York, N. Y.-

Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 637,06

The present invention relates to methods and mechanisms for cutting fabrics and it particularly relates to cutting or incising internal openings in fabrics.

Although the present invention will be partlcularly described in it'siapplication to cutting textile or clothing fabrics, and particularly closed slots or slits or internal openings therein, it is to be understood that it has a broader application-to cutting internal windows or openings ofany desired form or shape in leather, leatherette,

canvas or other sheet materials.

are laid upon it and the outlines marked with cloth marking chalk. Finally a cutter upon a base having rollers resting upon the tableand with an electric 'motor'drive is pushed by hand through the spread-with the hand of the operator guiding the cutter in following thechalk marked outlines of the pattern. I

It is not possible by the foregoing cutting procedure to'make internal openings and slits for pockets or to permit gathering of the cloth for form fitting or to allow inserts'or quirks to be inserted for extrafullness.

To accomplish the latter it was customary to remove thesections of the cut multi-layer spread which are to receive internal cuts and these internal cuts were then made by hand with a, shrap knife and a cowhide mallet.-

This manual method of cutting results in considerable unevenness in the cut in variouslayers due to rufiling and displacement and in some instances quite a number of the pieces of the fabric were damaged and could not be properly fitted into the final garment.

In another method a long needle was pierced through the ends of the internal cut as marked in chalk upon the toplayer of the portion of the :14 Claims. (01. 164-45).

It is among the objects of the present inven:- tion to provide a fabric or cloth cutting method for making'internal cuts in textile and clothing fabrics of various shapes and characters with a minimum of manual labor and with assurance that the pre-determined position of the cutshall not be varied from piece to piece even though a pattern-cut pile of fabrics be operated upon at one time.

Another object is toprovide a, self-contains complete cloth cutting unit particularly designed for making internal cuts in textile or clothing fabrics which is of inexpensive andlight construction and which may be operated to cut a pile of fabrics quickly and uniformly with assurance that the cut throughout the pile will b uniform from piece to piece.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in. the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 7

A principal feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a self-contained unit for making internal'cuts in fabrics provided with a motor driven knife which may be manually lower-ed to cut down and through a pile of fabrics and then moved transversely to out a slit of de sired length therein. The knife in a preferred embodiment is provided with forward and rear cutting "edges and a sharpened bevelledlower end to enter into the pile of fabrics.

Another feature resides in compressing and clamping the fabrics down upon a table forming part of the'unit, by a presser foot operated by a treadle along the entire cut and upon both sides thereof. Other features will be apparent from the following description andaccompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention; r

Fig; 1 is a side elevational view of. the incisor -.machine of the present invention with the structure below the table only partly shown, with a pile of fabrics compressed by the presser foot on the table and ,with reciprocatory knife elevated above the table;

Fig. 2 is a, fragmentary front elevational view upon; the line 2-:2of= Fig; 1, upon an enlarged extend the guide rod 35 as well as the rack rod Fig. 6 is a front elevational view similar to 5, showing the knife in lowered position;

Fig. 7 is a detailed side sectional-view upon "the line 1-1 of Fig. 6. upon an enlarged scale, show-' Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view upon the 36, said guide rod and rack rod being held in position by the lock screws 31 and 38. The bridge 33 is provided with openings as indicated in 39 and 40 in Fig. 2 to receive the ends of the guide rod 35 and the rack rod 36. Moving upwardly and downwardly upon the guide rod 35 and rack rod 36 is the reciprocating head G a shown in Figs. 2, 3and 4.; The reciprocating' head G has a relatively wide base main structure 4| with openings 42 and 43 which receive the guide rod 35 and the rack rod 36, and it is also provided with a central opening :44-having oilless bushings 45 and 46 servingas bearings for the shank 41 of the reciprocatline B8 of Fig. 1, upon enlarged scale showing the clamp for the carrier ram to hold the same in fixed-position during lowering and raising of theknife.

Fig.9 is a top view of the presser footlupon the line'9 9 of -Fig. '1 and upon'an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 13' r Fig.-'.l1) is a fragmentary perspectiveview showmeme operating'm'eans for the presser foot; and "Fig-d1 is-a detail fragmentary cross sectional view upon the line II--I'I of Fig. 9 showing the -eonstr-uction presser foot.

1 eferring to'Fig. 1. the fabric cutting or incisor machine is'composed of a table or stand A which supports a'base or cradle B. The base or. Cradle,

3 carries and forms a bearing for the slide or carrier-ram C. The forward end-of the ram has a U-shaped frame D upon which is mounted the knife 'E the reciprocating ram or knife carrier Fj'fseeFig. 3);" the head G and'the motor H,,

as well as the knife raisingand lowering mechanism J. The presser foot'iK is actuated by the presser treadle L. 1

'-' In Figf'? is shown trip and lock mechanism M for holding the knife in lowered position. In Fig.

8 is shown theca'rr-ier ram lock N for holding the ram in fixed position while the knife E and the head G-arebeing lowered; I

V The table A as shown in Fig. l'has a top portion which maybe made of steel or aluminum and which may be flanged for rigidity. The top 20 receives the pile of fabrics 21. The pile 2I is usually of 8 inches in thickness and contains a sufficient number of layers of fabric to compose said 8 inches thickness. Of course'single layers of fabric-or'much lower piles could be readily cut or incised. The table top 20 may be supported upon a suitable number of legs 2| (one "being shown).

The base B is positioned at the rear of the table and its base plate '22 is held in position by the bolts 23. The cradle or'base Bhas the upstanding structure member 24 and at its upper or top portion it is provided with the fixed bearing structure 25sec particularlyFigB;

"" Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, the carrier ram C has aerewnportion 26 with outstanding lower angle portions 21, which-bear against overlapping lip portions 28 extending upwardly and inwardly fr'omthe sides 29 of the top of the cradle B.

The'f orward part of the carrier ram (see Fig. 1)

"is' flanged as indicated at 30 and. to it is bolted -a"t"3-I th'e U-shapedframe structure D. This U- "shaped frame structure is provided with a base or vertical member 32, a top leg or bridge 33 and a 5 Betwee'nthe legs 33 .and"34 (see Figs. 1,5 and 6) of the height adjustment'for the' ing ram F. The main structure M has a reduced width upward extension casing 48 which is received in the opening-49 in the bridge 33 when the headis in its uppermost position. The front of the extension 48 is open and may covered by a front plate I49 held in position by the screws 50.

1 The extension casing 4810f the head D receives the link 5t as well-as the crank or eccentric 52. As shown best inFig. 3, the'lower end of the link 5| has an opening 53 which receives the stud 54. The stud 5 1 constitutes a reduced diameter extension of the threaded'portion 55 of the screw 56. 'The'zscrewfifi .is screwed into the tapped opening 51 of the extension 58 of the shank 41 of the reciprocating-ram or knife shaft .or carrier F.

The upper portion of the link 5 I is provided with the opening 59 which receives the stud 60 projecting outwardly from the crank or eccentric .52. The head G is provided with the longitudinal opening 6| which receives the forward ball bearing 52 and the'rear ball bearing 63 for the crank shaft 164 which is enclosed by sleeve 65 fixed in position by a set screw 66 in the structural enclosure 61. The rear portion of the head G (see Fig. 3) is .flangedas indicated at '60, and bolted onto said head by the bolts 69, is the structural plate 1.0. The shaft '64 extend beyond the plate 10 and carries the hub H of the pulley drive 12, which is V-shaped and is driven by a correspondingly V- shaped belt 13. The hub is held in position by the set screw 14 on the extension of the shaft 64.

The structural plate 1.0 as best shown in Figs.

-'1 and 5 extends upwardly to carry the base support plate 15, upon which is attached by the bolts 16 the base 11 of the body 18 of the electric motor :i'I.-;-;The brackets 19, provided with the bolts 80,

reinforce the connection between the structural plate 1-0'andthe base plate 15.

It-will be noted that the brackets 19 (see Fig. 6) are more widely spaced than the side of upper flange or bridge 33 of the bracket D so that they may embrace or enclose the same in lowered position of Fig. 6. The head G as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is also provided with a forwardly extending boss IOI which has a central opening I02 receiving the pinion I03. 7 v The pinion I03 is keyed at I04 to the shaft which has oilless bushing bearing I06 and I01. The, bearing I06 fits in the opening I08 in the boss 1.0 l. Fitting into the outer end of the opening I02 in the boss IOI is the projection I09 of the casing III! which carries the oilless bushing I01 for the shaft I05 and has an opening III through which the shaft I05 projects.

The casing H0 receives the return or elevating This spring H2 is fixed if the casing I10 and is fixed at the other end by screw I I5 to a part attached to the shaft I05.

member I44.

position by the screws I I9.

The outer end of the shaft I85 carries the hub I I6 of the handle H1. The handle I I1 permits the head G and the knife E to be lowered and the spring to be tensioned or stressed.

The boss IIII has an opening (not shown) into the recess 43 of the portion M of the head so that the pinion I83 may mesh with the rack rod 36. The pinion I83 remains in mesh with the rack rodas the head D travels up and down upon the guide rod 35 and the rack rod' 36 between the upper position shown as in Fig. 5 and the lower position shown in Fig. 6.

The connection of the knife E to the knife haft F is best shown in Fig. 3. The top I of the knife E is provided with a central slot I26, into which projects the bridge I21 formedby recessing the lower end I28 of the knife haft F as indicated at I29. t

The upper ends of the divided portions I38 of the knife are curved as indicated at I3I to'abut and be wedged against the correspondingly curved portions I32 of the recesses I29 in the lower end I28 of the bait F. The bolts I33 extend through the divided portions I38 of the upper end I25 of the knife E and through the lower slotted end of the bait F recessed as indicated at I29.

The knife E as shown is a straight knife with a forward sharpened edge I34 and a'rearward sharpened edge I35 so that it can cut on either side and it also has a sharpened bevelled point I36 (see Fig. 1) to enable readier penetration of the fabric pile 2 I.

When the head D with the knife E is lowered into position to contact and cut the cloth or fabric it is locked into said lower position by means of the mechanism shownin Fig. 7 and also on a smaller scale in Figs. 5 and 6.

As indicated in Fig. 7, the lower flange 34 of the U bracket carrier is provided with a threaded opening I 4|" which receives the threaded shank I42 of an upstanding notched latch member I43. The portion I44 of the member I43 is notched at I45 and is flattened at its sides as best shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the notch I 45 has altransverse shoulder I46 and an oblique shoulder I41 and that the upper end of the portion I44 is alsoprovided with an'oblique or cam face I48.

The lower side of the wide portion M of the jheadG is provided with a vertical opening I49 and a transverse opening I58. The vertical opening I49 has the same diameter as the diameter of the projection I44 closely to fit the same when the head G is lowered to its bottom position as shown in Figs. 6 and 7-. When this occurs the upper bevelled portion I48 of the member I44 will .is provided with a sloping face I 53 to contact the bevel l48.0f,the member I44 and is also provided with a transverse upper notch I54 to engage the transverse face I48 of the notch I45. The coil spring I55 in the inside end of the opening I58 will press the shoulders I 54 and I46 into engagement.

By pressing the button I52 inwardly and releasing the spring I55, it will be possible to disengage the shoulders I54 and I46 releasing the The amount of movement of the release button I52 is controlled by the longitudinal notch I56 in which is received the end of the screw I51 screwed intothe lower portionvof the member 4|.

' The link The height of the member I 44 may be regulated by loosening the lock nut I58 and screwing the member I42 further into or out of the tapped opening I4I.

To move the carrier ram C, the handle I6I is attached to the front of the head G (see Figs. 2 and 4) by the screw I62 extending through the inturned flange portion I63 and the screw I 65 ex- 'tending through the outturned portion I64.

The presser foot shown in top view in Fig. 9

and also in smaller scale in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 holds down the pile of fabrics 2| under substantial compression over the entire length of the cut or slit designed to fit over and show the marked line on the top layer of the pile of fabrics 2|. This slot I12 may closely bear against the sides of the knife E but preferably is slightly spaced 'so that there will be a clearance of t; to inch :on each side of the knife.

The base plate I1I of the presser foot K is of decreased width at its forward end I13 and 'at its parallel sides it is provided with stiffening flanges I14 which increase in height towards the vertical support member I15.

The square cross section support member I15 '(see Fig. 9) extends through the square open ing I16 in the boss I11 which is held down by the screws I18 upon the base I1I of the presser footK;

The wing nut I19 as shown in Fig. 11 permits an adjustment of the presser foot K on the support bar I15. The rear face of the bar I15 is provided with adjustment openings I88 consistingof drilled holes.

. The wing nut I19 has a threaded shank I8I fitting through the threaded opening I82 in the boss I11 and the nose I83 is designed to engage the adjustment notch or drilled hole to flx the desired position of the presser foot K.

The lower end of the vertical support I15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10 extends through the opening I84 in the table top 28 and is pivotally connected at I85 to the link I86.

I86 (see Fig. 10) extends downwardly and embraces at I81 the cross bar or lever I88 with the pin I89 forming a means of pivotal connection. The cross bar I88 is piv- -treadle I95.

Thdpresser treadle I is designed to lower the baror lever I88 and to engage it in one of the notches I96 in the side of the slot I93.

The plate I94 is attached to the cross bar I91 by the bolts I98;

The bar I88 is biased upwardly by the spring 28.8 which at its lower end is connected tothe U-member 28I. The U-member 28I' is pivotally connected to the bar I88. The spring 288 at its upper end is connected by the hook 282 to the eye 283 in the bottom of the table top 28.

The slide member or carrier ram C is provided with .a sheet metal channel 2II on the side thereof held in position by the screws 2I2. The channel 2 I I carries the adjustable stops 2 I3.

As best shown in Fig. 8 the adjustable stops 2I3 are provided with discs 2I4' fitting I in the channel 2II which have threaded shanks '2I5 receiving the washer 2H5 and the nut 2||.- By means of loosening and. tightening of the nuts 2!], the stops 2|3 may be placed at any desired position on the channel 2|| on the side of the carrier C. The fixed stop 2|0 (see Fig. 1) will cooperate with the adjustable stop 2|3 to limit the forward and rearward movement of the knife B.

When the head G is being lowered to lower the knife .E to and through the slot I12 of the presser foot K and to and through the pile of fabrics-2|, the carrier C may be fixed by the clamp N. The clamp N consists of the handle 225 (see Figs 1 and 8) which is fixed at 226 to the shaft 221. The shaft 221 passes through the opening 228 in the clamping block 229. The "inside upper edge of the clamping block 229 is provided with a recess 230 to engage the lower outside edge 21 of the slide C. The shaft 221 extends under the slide C in the recess 23| and has a threaded end 232 which fits into the thread- .ed opening 233 in the other clamping block 234. The clamping block 234 is also provided with a notch or recess 230 to receive the lower outside edge 2'! of the carrier slide or ram C.

.By tightening the handle 225, the ram on car- Tim C may be fixed against movement upon lowering the knife In operation the pile of fabric 2| usually consists of layers of dress or clothing textile fabrics up to 8 inches in height, which have already been spread and cut to pattern on a long cutting table. The pile as shown in Fig. 1 has been marked with an internal slit or slot to be cut therein, as for example a pocket or to permit of gathering or fullness as the case may be.

The pile 2| is then laid upon the table 20 under the presser foot K which is in upper position with the lever or bar I88 unlatched from the notches 196. The pile 2| is positioned, so that the portion thereon marked to be out, is placed with the chalk mark exposed under the slot ||2 of the presser foot K. Then the presser .treadle I96 is pressed down to bring the presser foot Kagainst the pile of fabrics 2|. This will be done against the spring 200 with the bar I88 being latched in a suitable notch I96. Adjustment of the position of the presser foot K may be made by the wing nut H9. During these operations the head G and the knife E are in J an elevated position with the knife centrally over the .slot I12 and with the carrier ram C clamped in position by the clamp N.

Then the motor H is started, rapidly reciprocating the knife E through the crank 52. The handle H7 is turned lowering the knife E to the slot I12 and to the fabric 2| until the knife E penetrates through the pile of fabrics into the position as shown in Fig. 6 and until the latch engages as shown in Fig. 7 holding the head G in its lower position.

The adjustable stops 2|3 may at this time or later be adjusted in respect to the fixed stop 2|9 to permit the carrier ram to move the full length of the slip or slot to be out in the pile 2|.

Then the clamp N is loosened, and by the handle i6! the carrier ram C is moved forwardly and backwardly with the knife penetrating the pile as shown in Fig. 6 to cut the desired internal slit in the fabrics. When this operation has been completed, the knife E may be moved to the middle position of the cut and the carrier ram C 1 may be clamped by the clamp N. Then by press- Iing the release button |52, the stressed spring I l2 i8 wih elevate the carrier G and :the knife E and the motor 1-! may be stopped.

Then the fabric pile 2| may be released by disengaging the bar'IBB and the notches I96, the presser treadle being returned by the spring 200 to its uppermost position.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a simple unitary and novel cloth cutting or slitting machine particularly designed to make internal cuts or slits in piles of fabric with assurance that the cut will be uniform throughout without the need of using a mallet and a sharp knife and Without the'need of separately cutting each layer of fabric.

Although the present machine is particularly designed for cutting internally, it may also be used for a normal type of cutting piles of fabrics where the fabrics may not be spread upon a long .table and where the cutting is primarily along straight lines. By shifting the pile under the knife E and presser K, various outlines of internal openings may be cut.

The speed with which the reciprocatory knife E is lowered into the fabric and the pressure and speed of cutting by moving the carrier forwardly or backwardly is regulated so as to avoid unravelling and generally a light pressure is preferred.

As a general rule, it has been found that the inch reciprocatory movement of the knife E is sufiicient and that the knife may satisfactorily have a rate of 2500 reciprocations with a /8 to horsepower motor.

The parts as shown may be made of cast iron or steel with any parts susceptible of being made of aluminum, constructed of this material for lightness. For example, whereas the cradle 13 and the carrier C may be made of cast iron the frame D and the head G as well as the reciprocating haft F may be made of aluminum.

The spring 2 may be made of various sizes and dimensions but in one construction preferred, it has been found satisfactory to make this spring about 25 feet long, 1 inch wide and of 0.02 inch in thickness of tempered steel.

Although the slot H2 in the presser foot may be made sufficiently narrow to bear against the sides of the knife E, it is desirably of sufficient width to permit the operator to see the chalk marking on the top layer of the pile 2|.

The mechanism presented in this invention will cut an absolutely straight line, uniform in each layer of the pile, within 0.05" accuracy and at lengths varying from 1 to 20 inches.

The presser foot K will hold the cloth down during the cutting, firmly compressing it and preventing rising, offsetting and bulging.

Instead of a reciprocating head carrying the drive motor and knife carrier arrangement, the motor might be mounted upon a fixed frame and drive a splined shaft. Upon this splined shaft, the knife carrier could be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly. The carrier could slide in a dovetail bearing member, one side of which could I be screwed onto a base and therefore be adjustbe made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained 1. A cloth cutting mech anis m, comprising a table, a cradle mounted on said table, a carrier ram mounted toslide upon the cradle, a U-shaped bracket at the forward end of said carrier, a vertically reciprocatory arrangement carried by said bracket, said arrangement including a'reciprocating head carrying a drive motor, a reciprocating knife haft, a bearing sleeve for said haft, an eccentric driveconnection; between said motor and said reciprocating; haft, a vertical knife carried bysaid reciprocating ,ram and means to lower and raise said reciprocating head and said knife thg '1 1Q: 'I.,I,

2.;A cloth cutting rnechani sm, comprising; a fable, ai e.m uniedpnsaid; ta aearr er ram mounted to slide upon said cradle, a U- shaped-bracket at the forward end of said carrier, a vertically reciprocatory arrangement carried by said bracket, said arrangement including a reciprocating head carrying a drive motor, a reciprocating ram, a bearing sleeve for said ram, an eccentric drive connection between said motor and said reciprocating ram, a vertical knife carried by said reciprocating ram and means to lower and raise said reciprocating head and said knife together, and a presser foot to clamp fabrics upon said table to be cut by said knife.

3. A cloth cutting mechanism, comprising a table, a cradle positioned on said table, a carrier ram carried by said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to guide said carrier ram and adjustable stop means to limit the movement of said ram, a U-shaped bracket carried at the front end of said ram, a vertically reciprocatory head carried by said bracket, a knife carried by said head and means on said head to reciprocate said knife.

4. A cloth cutting mechanism, comprising a table, a cradle positioned on said table, a carrier ram carried by said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to guide said carrier ram and adjustable stop means to limit the movement of said ram, a U-shaped bracket carried at the front end of said ram. a vertically reciprocating head carried by said bracket, said head carrying a reciprocatory knife haft, an eccentric for driving said haft, a vertical knife carried by said haft, and an electric motor for driving said eccentric.

5. A cloth cutting mechanism, comprising a table, acradle positioned on said table, a carrier ram carried by said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to guide said carrier ram and adjustable stop means to limit the movement of said ram, a U-shaped bracket carried at the front end of said ram, a vertically reciprocatory head carried by said bracket, a knife carried by said head and means on said head to reciprocate said knife and means to latch said head in lowered position.

6. A cloth cutting mechanism, comprising a table, a cradle positioned on said table, a carrier ram carried by said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to guide said carrier ram and adjustable stop means to limit the movement of said ram, a U-shaped bracket carried at the front end of said ram, a vertically reciprocatory head carried by said bracket, a knife carried by said head and means on said head to: reciprocate said knife, manual means to lower said head to cause said knife to contact the cloth to be cut and said head and means on said head to reciprocate spring means to return said head after the cutf, ting is completed.

clothsuiti m e eia m ing: a table, a cradle, positioned on said table,' a carrier ram carried, ;Joy;said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to, guide said carrier ram; and adjustable stop means to limit the movement; of said ram,'j a U.-shaped'.br'acket carried'atthe front end of said vrain, afvertically reciprocatory head Ge many said brackeu a kn'ife carried by said knife. and means to clamp said carrier ram in fixed positi during .re'ci 'ocatior'i of said head.

8. A'cloth butting; mechanism, comprising a table acradle positioned'bn said table, a carrier ranrcarried by'said cradle, said cradle having longitudinal bearings to g'uidesaid carrier ram and adjustable stop means to limit themovement of 'said' ram, a U-shap'edbracket' carried at "the front end of said ram, a vertically reciprocatory head carried by said bracket, a knife carried by said head and means on said head to reciprocate said knife, a pressure foot to hold the cloth to be out upon said table and a pressure treadle to actuate said foot and latch it in position during the cutting operation.

9. A cloth cutting machine, comprising a vertical knife serving as a cutter, a knife haft carrying said knife, a head having a vertical bearing for said haft, a crank to reciprocate said haft, said head having a horizontal bearing for said crank, a motor carried by said head to drive said crank, a frame carrying said head having a rack and a pinion carried by said head meshing with said rack, a handle driving said pinion to lower said head and a return spring to elevate said head.

10. A cloth cutting machine, comprising a vertical knife serving as a cutter, a knife haft carrying said knife, a head having a vertical bearing for said haft, a crank to reciprocate said haft, said head having a horizontal bearing for said crank, a motor carried by said head to drive said crank, a frame carrying said head having a rack and a pinion carried by said head meshing with said rack, a handle driving said pinion to lower said head and a return spring to elevate said head, a carrier ram to carry said frame, and a base to support and afford slide bearings for said carrier ram.

11. A cloth cutting machine, comprising a vertical knife serving as a cutter, a knife haft carrying said knife, a head having a vertical bearing for said shaft, a crank to reciprocate said haft, said head having a horizontal bearing for said crank, a motor carried by said head to drive said crank, a frame carrying said head having a rack and a pinion carried by said head meshing with said rack, a handle driving said pinion to lower said head and a return spring to elevate said head, a carrier ram to carry said frame, and a base to support and afford slide bearings for said carrier ram, and means to hold said head and carrier ram in a desired position.

12. A cloth cutting mechanism comprising a support for the cloth to be cut, a clamp to hold the fabric down during cutting, a vertically and laterally reciprocable head member, a vertically disposed knife extending downwardly from said head and carried by said head and vertically and laterally reciprocable guide slide devices to guide and control the movement of said head, the vertically reciprocable guide slide device being carrie'd nfi'the end of the mter'aiiy" recipreible guideslide device.

13.!1010171! ciitfifiigfifechgiiis'm con'ipiising a Siibb dlft for the cloth to be cut, a3- clamp to hold the fabric down during cutting, a vertically and laterally recipro'cafile' Head member, a- 'vert-icaiiy disposed knife extending downwardly from said heard-and carried by said headand vertically and laterally reciprocable guide Slide devices t9 guide andcdntrol the movement of said head, the vartican'y' re'ciprocable guideslide' device being pro vided with a verticai rack and inteimeshm pinion and a feturii coil spring device.

14. A cloth cutting mechanism comprising a sfuppo'z' t for the cloth to be Gut, a elamp to hold the fabric down during c'uttiiig', a; vertically and later'aliy reciprdeaible head member, a vertically disposed k'nife' extending downwardly from said Head aiid carried. by said head aiid Vertically and laterally reeiprocable g' uide slide devices to guide REFERENCES CITED Thefoiiowing' references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 18 1,7611 Ferris =E- Nov. 28, 1876 341,700 StimDsdn May 11, 1886 715,642 Curtis Dec.- 9, 1902 840,702 Maleney 1 Jan. 8, 1907 943,221 Engberg Dec. 14, 1909 1,183,674 Rdck et a1. May 16, 1916 1,585,012 Biersdorf May 18, 1926 

